Feeling inspired by “Eat for Years”, I posed the following question to a group of experienced registered dietitian nutritionists: “If you could only give one piece of advice to a patient looking for recommendations on how to live a long and healthy life, what would it be and why?”

Most agreed that choosing just one piece of advice is impossible, but that didn’t stop them from offering eleven smart tips that you can implement today for a better tomorrow.

​1. Do things you love.“When life gets stressful, as it does for everyone at some point, instead of turning to food for comfort, focus on taking care of you. Turn to exercise or activities you love, sleep, massage, prayer and meditation, etc. All things to uplift you.” -- Susan MitchellWebsite: FoodFitFabulous.com Twitter: @drsusanmitchell

2. Eat fruits and vegetables with each meal.“As we mature our lives get increasingly more hectic and we may not have as much time to sit down and eat a well-balanced meal. One piece of advice I would give a patient looking to live a long and healthy life would be to eat a serving of fruits and vegetables with each meal. Fruits and vegetables provide our body with essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytonutrients, and fiber to help fight chronic disease and keep you regular! Keep easy-to-pack fruits and vegetables on hand such as carrot sticks, sliced bell peppers, sugar snap peas, apples, bananas, and oranges to encourage you to meet this daily goal.” -- Samina Qureshi Twitter: @saminaqrd

3. Eat a well-balanced diet."I recommend consuming a balanced diet and not depriving yourself. Having a mix of protein, carbohydrates, fats, fruits and vegetables at each meal provides you with the energy you need to get through the day as well as the vitamins and minerals needed for a healthy life!" -- Linzy UngerWebsite: NutritionA-linZ.com Twitter: @nutritionA2linZ

4. Flavor food with herbs and spices."Add herbs and spices to every meal and snack. Not only do they offer loads of health benefits, they add a lot flavor and fun. If you're going to live a long life, you'll definitely want it to be as flavorful and fun as possible."-- Kendra Tolbert Website: www.livefertile.com Twitter: @kendratolbertrd

5. Ditch the sugar."Learn to live without refined sugar, remove it from your pantry, pretend it does not exist. If you need to sweeten something, add a little bit of wild flower honey." -- Alejandro Leon Website: www.nutritionistatyourdoor.com

​6. Tone and flex those muscles!“Lifting weights strengthens your body and helps build lean muscle. As you get older, your body declines in muscle strength and naturally loses muscle mass overtime. Participating in weight training, about three times per week, may help in preserving lean muscle mass and strength. Start small with light free weights like dumbbells, an elastic band or your own body weight by doing some push-ups. Strength training has many positive benefits and one of these benefits means staying strong as you age.” -- Karla Moreno Website: www.nutritiousvida.com Twitter: @kmorenord

​7. Set realistic goals."Start today and start small. Our dietary habits begin to form when we are children and continue to be built over 10, 20, 30+ years. For many, it can be unreasonable to expect undesirable dietary habits to change overnight. Personal, realistic goals are the key to success. Find success with something that meets you where you are today and build on it when you are ready. “-- Tara Noseck Website: NeatNutrition.com Twitter: @neatnutrition

8. Feed your soul. “It’s not just about what we eat...Feed your soul. By connecting with others, laughing, sharing, volunteering, noticing a beautiful sunset, enjoying a great bite of food, and being physically active we feed our soul.” -- Judy Barbe Website: www.LiveBest.info Twitter: @JudyBarbe

9. Embrace variety. "Don't be afraid to try new foods and discover new flavors. There are so many rich experiences to be had around food and having the flexibility to explore and enjoy those things lends itself to a naturally balanced relationship between food and health. Without sticking to structure or routine around the clock we give ourselves the freedom to be truly happy and present in the moment." -- Cara Harbstreet Website: street-smartnutrition.com Twitter: @StreetSmartRD

10. Choose colorful and unprocessed foods."Just one piece of advice is difficult, because there are so many components to living a long, healthy life. However, being a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and my passion for teaching others about the power of nutritious food prompts me to focus on food. I feel that being in nature and eating whole, unprocessed foods rich in color found in nature, is a large part of vibrant and healthy aging." -- Naomi May Website: yournutritionroots.com Twitter: @NaomiMayRDN

11. Enjoy food. "Enjoy yourself and appreciate meals with your family, friends, loved ones. I think many people have forgotten how to enjoy food and appreciate how wonderful it is and lucky we are to have choices.” -- Pedro Sun Website: feelgoodfit.net Twitter: @nutritionist1